Training Australian Shepherds is essential. Aussies love to work and please their owners. You need to direct their boundless energy. Check out these popular dog training programs and see which is the right one for you.

Training Australian Shepherds

D.I.Y. Dog Training with Sharda Baker

Sharda Baker delivers a lot of valuable dog training information in the 2nd Edition of her D.I.Y. Dog Training program.

As the saying goes "the proof is in the pudding" and Sharda has a loyal following of customers who have ordered her program. On her website she shares feedback from dozens of people who Sharda has helped.

There are a lot of dog training programs available but Sharda has put together a package (3 packages actually) that covers a lot of ground. She was like so many of us at one time and put up with unruly behavior from her dogs. But then she decided enough was enough and began her research.

Sharda says on her website, "I read every dog training book I could get my hands on and spoke to as many dog training experts as I could. It was like getting blood out of stone with some of the trainers though as many try and keep their knowledge to themselves. And you know what? I made sure just about every dog training question that had ever come up was covered... The end result is my "Do It Yourself (D.I.Y.) Dog Training Package."

She has also made available a free subscription to her D.I.Y. Dog Training Tips e-Book, audio and newsletter. This gives you a chance to become more familiar with Sharda and her approach before deciding if her program is right for you. The information in Sharda's program is relevant for any Australian Shepherd training.

Sharda's D.I.Y. Dog Training comes in 3 different levels. But all of them include a private email consultation and the core program. This gives you the choice of what information and which bonuses you want most.

Depending on the package you choose here are the bonuses that may be included along with the Complete DIY Dog Training Manual and DIY Dog Training Audio:

Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training

You probably know Victoria Stilwell from her highly acclaimed television series on Animal Planet called "It's Me Or The Dog".

Victoria is a dedicated proponent of Positive Reinforcement Dog Training and has spent years sharing her enthusiasm for this approach through books, videos and numerous television appearances.

Originally from England she learned from some of Britain's best dog trainers and behaviorists. After moving to the US she started several dog training companies on the east coast. She has also done extensive work with rescue dogs and rehabilitation.

Her two best-selling books,It’s Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet and Fat Dog Slim: How to Have a Healthy, Happy Pet, have been widely praised, and they detail her core reward-based training philosophy: “There’s a better way to train – Positively.”

According to Victoria's website, "Modern behavioral science has proven that forceful handling such as physical punishment, leash yanking, or making a dog submit by rolling it on its back is psychologically damaging for the dog and has potentially dangerous consequences for owners. Instead, the most successful modern training theories suggest that reinforcing good behavior with rewards while using constructive discipline is much more successful. Positive reinforcement (i.e., giving the dog a reward in the form of praise, play, food, toys, etc. when it responds and offers an action or a behavior that you like) has been shown to be the most effective way to train a dog because rewarding good behavior will increase the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

Similarly, the use of constructive discipline (marking bad behavior by using vocal sounds to interrupt the behavior and refocus the dog onto something more positive, ‘time-outs’ or simply ignoring the dog) ensures that the dog learns which behavior is linked to the negative consequences of the discipline and is therefore less likely to repeat the behavior."

Considering that Aussies respond well to praise and are eager to please, Australian Shepherd training using Victoria's methods are likely to show excellent results.

The "Dog Whisperer", Cesar Millan

Okay, who hasn't heard of the "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan? Cesar has become one of the most widely recognized and highly respected dog trainers in the world.

You can't argue with the kind of success the charismatic and charming Cesar Millan has created for himself with his dog training empire, but his techniques have come under fire.

There is now considerable controversy over the training methods employed by Cesar Millan and may not be best suited to Australian Shepherd training. His use of "dominance theory" has many detractors who insist his methods are outmoded and use punishment for bad behavior instead of rewards for good behavior. At worst some say his methods are tantamount to abuse.

The technique of "dog whispering" has almost become synonymous with Cesar as a result of his popular television series called "The Dog Whisperer". Before that Cesar had a passion for animals and dog training since he was a child. Originally he worked with rehabilitating highly aggressive dogs at his Dog Psychology Center.

He brings the dominance theory approach to his books like Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems and How to Raise the Perfect Dog, Through Puppyhood and Beyondand his DVDs,Mastering Leadership Series and, of course, his acclaimed television series The Dog Whisperer.

There is a great deal to be learned from Cesar Millan as he is a proficient dog handler and trainer. However, many of the techniques he employs can be dangerous and should only be used by highly skilled trainers. As his television show always warns, the techniques should not be tried at home without a professional. Indeed Cesar himself has been bitten on several occasions.

Australian Shepherd training needs to be a positive experience. Aussies are very intelligent and sensitive so may be better suited to more positive dog training approaches.

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